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Next-Generation D-SLRs

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New models deliver technology advances for photographers of every level

This Article Features Photo Zoom

SONY DSLR-A900
About a year ago Sony announced the development of a new 24-megapixel, full-frame CMOS image sensor, and we all waited eagerly for the first camera to incorporate it. That camera turned out to be Sony’s first pro D-SLR, the 24.6-megapixel DSLR-A900, with 16% more pixels than the next-highest-resolution, 35mm-format D-SLR.

 

CANON EOS 5D MARK II
It has been three long years since Canon shook things up by introducing the first “affordable” full-frame D-SLR, the EOS 5D. Now its replacement is finally here. The new EOS 5D Mark II ups the resolution by 65%, adds full HD-movie capability and a lot more, all at a price $600 less than the original EOS 5D when it came out.

21.1-Megapixel Canon CMOS Sensor & DIGIC 4 Image Processor
Featuring an improved version of the Canon-produced, 21.1-megapixel CMOS image sensor used in the top-of-the-line EOS-1Ds Mark III and Canon’s new DIGIC 4 image processor, the EOS 5D Mark II delivers what Canon calls the highest level of image quality of any EOS camera. The 14-bit RAW files measure 5616x3744 pixels. The Mark II also offers two small RAW sizes: sRAW 1 (3861x2574 pixels, 9.9 MP) and sRAW 2 (2784x1856 pixels, 5.2 MP); you can shoot any of them plus JPEG simultaneously.

Full HD-Movie Capability
The EOS 5D Mark II is the first Canon D-SLR to incorporate movie capability. You can record movie clips (up to 4 GB worth, or 29 minutes 59 seconds, whichever comes first) at 30 fps, in full 1920x1080 HD resolution. You can add audio via a built-in mono microphone or connect an external stereo mic. Movies are stored in WAV format, with CD-quality sound.

High ISO Capability
Thanks to the new DIGIC 4 image processor, the Mark II dwarfs its predecessor’s ISO range, going three stops higher. You can set ISO 100-6400 in 1⁄3-stop increments, plus set L (ISO 50), H1 (ISO 12,800) and H2 (ISO 25,600).

Quick Performance
The Mark II starts up in about 0.1 seconds and can shoot those big images at 3.9 per second. If you use a UDMA-compliant CompactFlash card, you can shoot Large/Fine JPEGs at that rate until the card is full or up to 14 RAW images in a burst. With standard CF cards, you can shoot up to 13 RAW or 78 highest-quality JPEGs in a burst.

High-Res, 3-Inch LCD Monitor With Live-View
The Mark II improves on the original EOS 5D’s LCD monitor in both size
(3 inches vs. 2.5 inches) and resolution (920,000 dots vs. 230,000), and adds Live-View capability. There are three Live-View AF modes: Quick, using the camera’s normal phase-detection AF system; Live, using compact-camera-style contrast-detection AF; and Face Detection, which can detect up to 35 faces and adjust focus to get them all sharp. You also can focus manually in Live-View mode when desired.

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